Verbal reasoning tests assess your ability to understand written information and draw logical conclusions. The True/False/Cannot Say format trips up even strong readers.
Verbal reasoning tests present short passages of text followed by statements. Your job is to determine whether each statement is True, False, or Cannot Say based solely on the passage, not your general knowledge. The 'Cannot Say' option is the most misunderstood: it means the passage neither confirms nor denies the statement, not that you personally don't know.
Understanding the different formats helps you prepare more efficiently.
The most common format. Read a passage, then determine if each statement is definitely true, definitely false, or cannot be determined from the passage alone.
Answer multiple-choice questions about the meaning, implication, or main idea of a passage. Used in Watson-Glaser format.
Identify synonyms, antonyms, or analogies. Less common in modern assessments but still used by some publishers.
Evaluate the strength of arguments, identify assumptions, and assess conclusions. Used in Watson-Glaser and GMAT-style tests.
Try these example questions to get a feel for the format. Click "Show Answer" to see the explanation.
Passage: 'The company introduced a flexible working policy in 2022, allowing employees to work from home up to three days per week. Employee satisfaction scores increased by 23% in the following year.' Statement: 'The flexible working policy caused the increase in employee satisfaction.'
Passage: 'All senior managers at the firm are required to complete a leadership development programme within their first year. The programme covers strategic thinking, team management, and financial literacy.' Statement: 'Some senior managers may not have completed the leadership development programme.'
Proven techniques to maximise your Verbal Reasoning score.
The most important rule: ignore your general knowledge. Even if a statement seems obviously true in real life, if the passage doesn't confirm it, the answer is 'Cannot Say'.
'Cannot Say' means the passage is silent on the matter. It neither confirms nor denies. It does NOT mean you personally cannot say. This distinction eliminates the most common error.
Words like 'always', 'never', 'all', 'none' in statements are usually False. Passages rarely make such absolute claims. Words like 'sometimes', 'may', 'some' are more likely to be True or Cannot Say.
Read the statement first, then scan the passage for relevant information. This is faster than reading the full passage first.
SHL verbal tests give about 35 seconds per question. If you spend more than 45 seconds on one question, move on. Don't sacrifice easy questions for hard ones.
Everything you need to know about Verbal Reasoning tests.
Numerical reasoning tests measure your ability to interpret and analyse numerical data, tables, graphs, and charts, under time pressure. Used by 75% of Fortune 500 companies.
Logical reasoning tests measure abstract thinking and pattern recognition, the ability to identify rules in sequences of shapes, symbols, and diagrams without language or numbers.
Psychometric tests are the umbrella term for all standardised assessments used in recruitment, covering aptitude tests, personality questionnaires, and situational judgement tests.